22 Notes on the Life-history of the Common Newt, |January, 
developed. The young begin to molt in confinement about the 
second month; later on, with every change, the spots which are 
only blurred white markings at first, assume a more definite 
shape. The adults change their skin frequently when they have 
abundant food, which has the same effect on the Urodela as on 
the ophidians. 
Thus far all went well, but then began the great trouble always 
experienced at this stage in rearing the Urodela, much greater 
than that of the Anura. The latter will feed greedily on decom- 
posed animal matter that the former seem to care little for, in 
confinement at least. I tried every kind of aquatic plant and 
small insect I could get from the ponds, but uselessly, many died 
and the rest were thin as shadows but active as ever. A few sur- 
vived till August and well proved their identity, when I put the 
last but one in spirits to save its life! The last I kept alive till 
nearly the end of the month by feeding it on little red mites that 
swarm in the ponds at that season, but even it succumbed, and it 
was still only one inch long when it followed its mates, never 
having grown since June. I preserved a series of specimens from 
the spawn upwards, and I hunted the ponds so persistently that I | 
was able to supplement my own deficiencies by larve from them 
in every stage, so that now it is complete in my cabinet from 
spawn to a fine adult five inches long. 
To show the difference in rearing these animals in confinement 
and in their natural state, I will mention that on June 14th I took 
some larvz from the same pond over two inches in length and 
quite fat. Doubtless the great increase of size over mine was 
due to abundance of suitable food, fresh air and abundant room 
to swim about in. I have had ample proof that the breeding 
season extends even to May, from the very small larve I have 
taken even in July. 
Some young taken in September were a dark olive, the tail : 
nearly black and feet dark ; those of October showed a little dot- 
ting on the chin; those of November had the gills absorbed, 
were about two and a half inches long, and were sparsely dotted — 
underneath, but fhe side spots still white. I do not think the 
flame color always comes in till the second year, and the buff — 
color of the abdomen shews about the same time. As the ani- — 
mal nears the period when the gills completely disappear, its — 
body diminishes in size, and I have taken some in the second : 
2 ee 
